Pages tagged Arab Americans

Nine middle school, high school and college students who set out to organize a protest in Lexington, KY around the Muslim ban got a response they never imagined. Some 1,000 people came out to join them in voicing their concerns on Sunday. Bayan Megariaf, one of the organizers from Tates Creek High School, is Libyan American and has become deeply concerned about the Trump Administration’s policies towards refugees, immigrants, American Muslims and those of Arab descent. “We just want people to know that without immigrants...

Arab Americans are taking action locally all across the country. They are calling and emailing officials in their state legislatures, in Congress and the U.S. Senate as well as their Governors' offices. Even better, they are requesting meetings with elected officials and bringing other constituents along to make a greater impact. They’re also hosting community meetings to discuss what can be done on the local and state level to protect sanctuary cities, address hate crimes and fight for free speech. Emad Salem is a 2016 DNC Delegate and Senate District 10 Committeeman for the Texas...

The Women’s March on Washington was a historic gathering of people in support of women’s rights, immigrant and refugee rights, LGBTQ rights, Muslim rights, Black rights along with the rights of several marginalized communities. As excitement from the weekend subdued, however, bigots were quick to unleash their fury against one of the co-chairs of the Women's March - Linda Sarsour. An activist and executive director of the Arab American Association of New York, Sarsour is an Arab American Muslim who has a long history of advocating for the rights of marginalized communities as...

Congressman Ralph Abraham, M.D., was elected to represent Louisiana's 5th District in December 2014. The 5th District is the largest in terms of area in the state, spanning 24 parishes across most of Northeast and Central Louisiana and parts of five Florida parishes in the state's southern "boot." This is his first publicly held office after spending most of his life as a practicing physician, veterinarian, business owner, farmer, pilot and veteran. https://abraham.house.gov/about/full-biography

Across the country, Arab Americans are stepping forward to make change and build support for immigrant rights, religious freedom and justice for disenfranchised communities. In Iowa, Newman Abuissa, a member of AAI's National Policy Council, is no different. As part of his role as an Advisory Board member of the University of Iowa's Center for Human Rights Abuissa worked with fellow members to create a community event that would counter division and hate. The result was Abraham's Walk "inspired by the biblical Abraham, who walked from his hometown to a...

Building on the release of AAI's "Advocacy Road Map," Government Relations Director Nadia Aziz joined activists in Philadelphia on Sunday, January 22 to discuss the community's immediate priorities and help develop them into an action plan. "The November election jolted many in our community, especially given our stance for immigrant rights and religious freedom. So, it's important for us to get together, as a community, to figure out how to deal with the potential domestic and foreign challenges. This meeting went a long way in developing that strategy," said Marwan Kreidie, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Arab-American Development Corps and an AAI...

AAI’s National Policy Council was recently joined by Greg Chen, Director of Advocacy for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), to strategize around President-elect Trump’s immigration proposals that many Arab Americans are concerned about. From reinstating NSEERS to deporting undocumented immigrants and talk of a “Muslim ban”, Arab Americans share concerns and fears with many other immigrant communities. Amidst uncertainty about how the proposals Donald Trump made as a candidate will be manifested once he takes office, there is important work to be done...

As we approach 2017, the Arab American community is facing a range of policy challenges both foreign and domestic. One of the ways you can help us have an impact and make a difference is by recommending candidates for AAI’s National Policy Council (NPC).

NPC members participate in monthly calls with policy experts and AAI leadership around issues facing our community. These monthly briefings help make sure local leaders get the vital information they need on complex and quickly changing policies. For Washington experts and AAI leaders, these exchanges provide much-needed...

Last week, the White House issued a long overdue response to the death of U.S. citizen Mahmoud Shaalan. In a letter from the State Department, the Obama administration issued its first and only substantive comments on Mahmoud's death at the hands of the Israeli army in the 10 months that have expired since. During the same time, President Obama signed a massive Memorandum of Understanding with Israel promising $3.8 billion in annual aid for the next 10 years. The letter is a disappointing admission that the U.S. is near powerless to ensure justice for Mahmoud. AAI President Jim Zogby said, "The State Department’s response to...

AAI joined nearly 200 civil and human rights, civil liberties, education, social justice, and inter-faith organizations to urge President Obama to take immediate action to rescind the regulatory framework behind NSEERS.